The Seahawks on Friday reached an agreement on a three-year contract worth a reported $14 million with former Carolina Panthers tight end Ed Dickson. He will replace Jimmy Graham, who signed with Green Bay this week, as Seattle’s lead tight end in a more run-based offense.
Chuck Burton
AP

Multiple league sources said Friday morning Seattle had an agreement on a three-year contract with Dickson, a free agent from Carolina who is eight months younger and far less the receiver than the 31-year-old Graham--but is a more accomplished blocker.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has vowed his top priority for 2018 is getting his offense back to the run. Seattle hasn’t had an adequate run-blocking tight end for years. Last season, the Seahawks didn’t have a fullback, either. The result of that was not only the NFL’s lowest rushing production by running backs last season but in many seasons.

No, Seattle no longer is or wants to be the same offense it wanted to be when the team traded to get Graham in 2015.

Dickson’s scheduled visit to Seahawks headquarters Thursday is why the team passed on offering former University of Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins from Fox Island a hometown contract on Wednesday night. Seferian-Jenkins left Wednesday night for Jacksonville, where he signed a two-year deal worth up to $11 million with the Jaguars.

So Dickson ultimately became about $900,000 per year cheaper, though he’s five year’s older than Seferian-Jenkins. Dickson comes about $5.5 million per year more cheaply than Seattle paid Graham the last two seasons.

Could the 11th former starter be exiting soon? On Friday, Tom Pelissaro of NFL Network reported Seahawks free-agent defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson remained in Minnesota on a visit for a second day, “picked up by GM in jet, had lunch with Kirk Cousins and others in owners’ suite yesterday ... Vikings would like to close him, if the price is right.”

The Seahawks have been talking to Richardson about an extension instead since at least December. He’s been perhaps their top signing priority this turbulent offseason.

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